diff --git a/code/database.py b/code/database.py
index 9edf3ec..31112f1 100644
--- a/code/database.py
+++ b/code/database.py
@@ -1,26 +1,29 @@
 from pymongo import MongoClient
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
+from configparser import ConfigParser
+from pathlib import Path
 import logging
 import os
 
 
+# load default values
+config = ConfigParser()
+f_list = config.read(Path(__file__).parent / 'defaults.ini')
+DB_IP_ADDRESS = config.get('database', 'db_ip_address')
+DB_NAME = config.get('database', 'db_name')
+DB_COLLECTION_NAME = config.get('database', 'db_collection_name')
+
+
 def connect(
-    ip_addr: str | None = None,
-    db_name: str | None = None,
-    collection_name: str | None = None
+    ip_addr: str = DB_IP_ADDRESS,
+    db_name: str = DB_NAME,
+    collection_name: str = DB_COLLECTION_NAME
 ):
     """
     Connect to MongoDB database and return collection.
     """
-    # ensure variables are set
-    if ip_addr is None:
-        ip_addr = os.getenv('DB_IP_ADDRESS')
-    if db_name is None:
-        db_name = os.getenv('DB_NAME')
-    if collection_name is None:
-        collection_name = os.getenv('DB_COLLECTION_NAME')
     # connect to database
-    client = MongoClient(ip_addr)
+    client: MongoClient = MongoClient(ip_addr)
     db = client[db_name]
     collection = db[collection_name]
     logging.debug('finished')